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Julio Cesar saved a penalty, but Marcelo Zalayeta inflicted Inter's first defeat of the season at the Stadio San Paolo! The Nerazzurri were unbeaten in 31 consecutive Serie A games and their lead at the top is reduced to just six points.
The Nerazzurri stepped into the packed out San Paolo needing a win to maintain their nine-point lead, but with their minds on the upcoming Liverpool clash on March 11 and straight after the midweek 1-1 draw with Scudetto challengers Roma that was a tough proposition. Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Walter Samuel, Esteban Cambiasso, Olivier Dacourt, Julio Cruz, Aparecido Cesar, Ivan Cordoba and the suspended Nicolas Burdisso were out of action, so David Suazo and teenage wonder Mario Balotelli started. Napoli welcomed back Ezequiel Lavezzi from a flu virus and Marcelo Zalayeta after his ban expired.
Inter had not visited this stadium in Serie A since February 2001, when they lost 2-0, and this fixture last ended in a draw back in 1993.
It took just three minutes to break the deadlock and send the San Paolo crowd crazy. Lavezzi sprung the offside trap on a long Walter Gargano pass and Julio Cesar rushed out to hoof clear, but only as far as Zalayeta to lob into an empty net!
Marco Materazzi was having horrible problems with the speedy Lavezzi and the Argentine sprinted past him again for a shot that flashed across the face of goal.
Manuele Blasi's shot was deflected just past Lavezzi on the counter, then Zalayeta nutmegged Cristian Chivu and the Inter defender was booked for hauling him down.
A Marek Hamsik free kick was cleared to the edge of the box for a Matteo Contini volley past the near post.
Inter had their first chance on 19 minutes, as Douglas Maicon threaded through for Suazo to spring the offside trap and bring a great save out of Gianello's legs. Balotelli's effort was deflected wide, but at the other end Julio Cesar used his body to beat away a Hamsik daisy-cutter.
Hamsik skipped past Nelson Rivas and Paolo Cannavaro's header was plucked out of the top corner by Julio Cesar.
Matteo Contini elbowed Balotelli as he tried to push past him and the referee waved play on, considering it involuntary, but the teenage striker was down for some time requiring treatment for a nosebleed.
Maicon nutmegged a defender and thumped the side-netting, but Rivas needed a sliding tackle to halt Hamsik in the area.
On the stroke of half-time Materazzi almost scored a bizarre own goal. Savini disposessed Rivas in the area and Materazzi's attempted clearance was looping towards his own goal, but Julio Cesar defied the laws of physics to leap across and flap it off the line!
Moments later Zalayeta wasted a golden opportunity on the counter with a wayward shot when he could have passed to the unmarked Lavezzi.
Nuno Maniche made way for Javier Zanetti at the break, but 60 seconds into the second half Chivu suffered a shoulder injury and had to be replaced. He has had recurring shoulder problems and this could be a relatively long-term stop. Hernan Crespo came on for a 4-4-2 system with Zanetti at left-back.
Lavezzi burst past Materazzi and fired wide of the near post when perhaps he should have crossed into the centre. Julio Cesar prevented another certain goal with a stunning reaction save on Hamsik, set up by Zalayeta at the byeline.
Lavezzi was clear on goal, but wasted the counter by trying a cross-field pass when he could have run straight at Julio Cesar. Inter had their first period of sustained pressure on 68 minutes, but Crespo flattened his marker in a bid to get the header from six yards.
Cannavaro needed a diving header to clear from Crespo after Savini's error, but there was controversy on 73 minutes. Lavezzi went on another counter and rolled across for Gargano, but Julio Cesar ran out to kick it off his feet. At first the referee hesitated, but then he pointed to the spot and booked the 'keeper. Replays suggest he got the ball, but also quite a lot of Gargano's ankle afterwards. Julio Cesar put the issue beyond doubt with a fantastic spot-kick save on Zalayeta right into the corner!
Lavezzi showed his pace again by shooting past Pele and staying on his feet despite a trip from behind, but he was exhausted and the pass rolled across to Zalayeta was too weak so Julio Cesar managed to intercept.
Hamsik and Zalayeta both missed a Savini cross at the near post by a matter of inches, then Lavezzi got a foot to a Savini cross at full stretch and couldn't quite make enough contact to turn it on target.
The referee awarded five minutes of stoppages and tension was at boiling point. Rivas was booked for kicking the ball straight at Savini after a free kick had been awarded.
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